Rotary for well drilling



Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

PATENT clasica.

IBURWELL BOY'KIN, JR., OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

ROTARY ron WELL DRILLING.

Application led May 15, 1922. Serial No. 561,178.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BURWELL BOYKIN, J r., a -citizen of the United States, residing at Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rotaries for lVell Drilling, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use-the same.

My invention relates to rotaries for use in drilling deep wells for oil, water, gas, sulfur, etc. More particularly the improvement has application to the gripping device used on rotary tables to hold thedrive stem, in

the operation of drilling.

An object of my invention is to provide a drive stem gripping device which will be easily and quickly appliedto and removed from the rotary table as desired.

Another object is to provide a set of gripping rollers which will securely hold the drive stem and also allow free vertical movement of the said stem.

Another object is to provide means for securely retaining the gripping means in the rotary table.

Referring to the drawing herewith, wherein like numerals ofreference are applied to like parts throughout the several views, Fig. l i's a-top lplan view of my drive stem gripping device. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the saine; Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the gripping roller; Fig. 5 is a top-plan view illustrating'my invention applied to a rotary table, and Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section on the line 6--6 ofFig. 5.

In carrying out my invention I contemplate securing in a rotary table, such as is ,used in well drilling, a gripping device for the grief stem, or drive stem, by means of which the drill is rotated. In the drawings I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 a drive The drill stem is constrained to rotate with the rotary table by means of gripping rollers. In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a rotary table atv9 having a central removable bushing-10 therein t0 receive the gripping device. The bushing 10 is circular in shape and is seated within the body of the rotary, as shown in Fig. 6. The table 10 is rotated through the usual shaft and gear connecting with the gear teeth 11 on the lower marginal Afio face of the table. The bushing 10 has a central opening 12 therein providing a squared seat for the gripping means. While I have shown this opening a square, it is contemplated that it may be of any non-circular or polygonal shape. In the type of rotary shown in Fig. 6, there is a lower pipe-supv l porting bushing shown at 14. Said bushing 14 is a taperedlbushing circular in shape eX- cept at the upper end l5 where it is squared to fit within the seat 12 previously described. As shown particularly in Fig. 6 it is countersunk deeply within the said seat so as to allow space above the same for the gripping device. It is adapted to receive pipe engagingslips whenit is desired to support the pipe.

The base 16 of the gripping device has a circular tapered lower i portion '17 fitting within the bushing 14, the

upper plate thereof being squared as previously described. Above the base or plate 16 fitting in said opening 12, isfa plate 18 overlapping the upper face of the table. This plate as shown in Fig. 5 is somewhat oblon and furnishes a mounting for the gripping rollers 19.

Said rollers 19 are each mounted upon a shaft 20, said shaft being cylindrical midway of its ends to furnish a bearing for the rollers and squared at each end as shownv in' Fig. 2, to fit within a slot 21 in supporting posts 22, one at each end of the sliaft.- The slot 21 is open at the upper end but is closed about the shaft in operation by a plate 23 fitting therein, said plate being held in position by means of a `cross pin 24" extending transversely through the upper ends of each of the suppprting posts 22 and said plate, andheld `against removal by a cotter pin 25. As shown in the drawing, vthe squared end of the' shaft 20` is somewhat smaller than the slot in which itv ts, thereby providing room at one side thereof for a plurality of square plates oi' shims 26. These shims furadjusted toward or away from the drive stem 7. When it is desired to move the gripping rollers inwardly the shims are removed from the inner Side of the shaft and inserted on the opposite side, thus throwing the shaft inwardly.

The rollers 19 are shaped on their outer periphery to conform to the shape of the drive stem. When the said drive stem is square as shown in lFigs. l and', the periphery of the rollers will have al V-shaped groove 27 therein so as to fit about the corners of the drive stem. It will thus be seen that the drive stem will be held firmly between the two opposite gripping rollers 19 but the said stem will be allowed free vertical movement because of its rolling contact with the ripping device. The grip-ping means shown erein may be held in position within the said table by means of overlapping plates or bars 28 shown in Fig. 5. To accommodate this means of holding the gripping device in its seat I have vformed radially 'extending plates 29 on opposite corners of the base 13. Each plate extends Hush with the upper face portion 10 of the table to a point adjacent the edge thereof. Adjacent standing lu 30 `having a central opening 31 to receive the breakout pin. This lug 30 is extended laterally at 33 and provided with a transverse opening therethrough to receive the bar or pin 28 adapted to fit closely at its inner end over the outer portion of the plate y29 of the gripping device. The plate 28 is held against lateral movement in the lug 23 by means 'of a pin 32.

When the drill stem is being inserted or removed from the drill hole, the pipe gripping means must be removed out of the way. The type of gripping device disclosed in this application is so constructed that it may be easily placed within its seat 1n the rotary table or removed as desired. When it is to te placed in position it will be inserted with- 1n the seat 12 in the portion 10 of the table and secured in position by means of the bars or plates 28. The grief stem 7 will extend upwardly through the central opening in the table and between the rollers 19. The rollers will be adjusted to fit firmly against the drive stem so as to hold it againstv rota tion relative to the table. When therefore. the table is rotated it will carry with it the drill stem in the usual manner. The use of rollers of this type will allow the drive stem to move freely in a vertical direction without binding. The forming of each of the rollers in the manner shown will form a gripping device which will not be ,easily broken andwill vnot be liable to get out of order. There are no bolts or nuts or other, removable parts which may be lost during the drilling operation. Each roller is strong in construction and held rmly in position by means which may be easily removed. lt therefore has many advantages over the type of gripping device vnow in ordinary use.

When a griefstem is used having grooves or flutes therein as shown in Fig.4 the periphery of the gripping' rollers `will be shaped to t the shape of the drive stem. Thus in Fig. 4 the rollers 19 have a central groove therein and sharp cornersl to fit withinthe -vertical flutes of the` drive stem and thus hold it against rotation within the gripping device. Itis contemplated that in all cases the roller will be shaped to fit the drive stem which is employedfby the particular make of rotary in connection with which my invention is used. The advantages'of this type of construction will be obvious to those skilled in the art without further description.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rotary device for well drilling, a rotary vtable having a polygonal opening therein, a gripping device for drive stems having a polygonal base adapted to lit in said opening, said base having a central the outer edge of the table 9 there is an upopening ytherein to allow the `passage therethrough of a drive stem, two opposite rollers mounted rotatably on shafts supported on said base, said rollers having peripheral vgrooves adapted to fit said drive stem, whereby said drive stem is held nonrotatable relative to said table.

2. In a rotary device for well drilling, a

` a polygonal opening rotary table having therein, a gripping evice for the drive stem -comprising a polygonal base shaped to fit in said opening, means to hold said base removably therein, gripping rollers mounted on said base, said rollers having their peripheries grooved to receive the drive stem and cooperating -to lit against the sides of said stem and hold it non-rotatable relativo to said table.

3. In a rotary device for well drilling, a rotary table having a non-circular opening therein in combination with a means to hold the drive stem comprising a gripping device having a base shaped to fit said opening and two gripping rollers mounted over a centrall opening in said base, said rollers being shaped to fit the drive stem and cooperating to partially surround the same.

4. In a rotary device for well drilling, a rotary table having a non-circular opening 'therein in combination with a gripping dein the manner described.

5. In a rotary device :Eor well drilling, a rotary table having a non-circular opening therein, a gripping device having a base shaped to it said opening. a retaining platek upper end centrally of said table, a gripping device for a drive stem having a base shaped to fit in said seat, drive stem gripping rollers on said base and means to hold said gripping device removably in said table.

'7. In a gripping device for drive stems, a base, two opposite rollers mounted rotatably thereon, said rollers grooved to receive said drive stem, and means toadjust said rollers relative to the drive stem.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature, this the 6th day of May. 1922.

BURIVELL BOYKIN, J R. 

